Boiler cleaner



' Feb. 26 ,1924. 1,484,832

P. H. KAUFFMAN BOILER CLEANER Filed Nov. 14. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /P If WATER LEVEL-I Feb. 26 1924. 1,484,832 I P. H. KAUFFMAN BOILER CLEANER Filed Nov. 14. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 26, 1924.

iiihitTEfi STATES rnnorvnr. n. KAUFMAN, or New osrnans, Louisiana.

' BOILER CLEANER.

Application filed November 14, 1921. Serial No. 514,987.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it KDOWH that I, PEROIVAL H. KAUrr- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Boiler Cleaners, of

which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. 1

My invention relates to a boiler cleaning device of the type in which the impurities are drawn off both from the bottom and from the surface of the water.

In carrying out the invention I locate on the bottom of the boiler inverted cup shaped members having slots cut in their lower edges and the metalat one side bent inwardly to form substantiallytangential inlets which will give the infiowing water a vortex motion. These members are connected to a pipe which communicates with the usual blow-ofl opening.

From this pipe rise vertical pipescarrying at their upper ends funnel shaped skimmer cups provided with rotatable cleaners therein. The water entering these skimmer cups will also receive a vortex motion.

Each of the bottom members is controlled by a separate valve normally opened by gravity but automatically closed when the blow-oii is opened, and a manually operated device is provided whereby these valves may be opened in sequence, so that only one is open at a time.

Other features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which represent one form of my invention:

Figure 1 is a partlal vertical section of a boiler with my invention located therein;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device in its operative position;

Figure 3 is an end view, partly in section, on the line 33 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows at the ends of the line;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of a single suction cup; and Figure 5 is a vertical section through the top of one of the riser tubes, the spiral member therein being shown in full lines.

Fitting within the usual blow-ofi opening 1 or" a boiler A of any suitable type, is a pipe 2 which has its upper end threaded into an elbow 3. A pipe section 4: is threaded into the horizontal branch of the elbow 3 and at its other end fits within one branch of a T-member 5, to which it is attached by screw bolts 6. Sections 4 and T-members 5 alternate throughout the length of the boiler,

and the last section 4 fits within anelbow 7.

Threaded pipes 8 engage the vertical branches of the T-members and the elbow 7, and carry at their lower ends suction cups or intake members 9.

These suction cups or intake members 9 rest on the bottom of the boiler, and have slits 10 cut therein at several points and the metal on one side of each slit is flanged inwardly as clearly shown in Fig. a, forming substantially tangential openings to cause a whirling or vortex movement of the fluid that enters said cups.

Suitably secured to the upper surface of the pipe sections 1 are reinforcing members 11 having threaded openings alined with openings in the pipes 4%. Threaded in these openings are vertical pipes 12, which are intended to reach a point not far below the usual water level in the boiler. These pipes 12 have attached to their upper ends skimmer cups 13, which are funnel shaped. Resting within each skimmer cup is a fiat spiral metal piece 14 having upwardly and outwardly extending wing portions 15 that support'the spiral on the upper edge of the skimmer cup. The spiral also has at its lower end a fiat tail piece 16, which fits within the entrance to the pipe 12 and by its rotation keeps the opening clear.

Within each pipe 8 is a valve member 17 that is hinged on a stem 18 and when closed by pressure as the blow-0E is opened, rests against a stop 19 screw threaded through the plpe 8. The stem 18 has an operating arm 20 extending outside of the pipe.

A rod 21 extends through a packing member 22 inserted in the wall of the boiler, and. is supported thereby and by hangers 23 carried by the T-members 5. This rod is provided by a handle 2a through which it may be rotated. Cam arms 25 are attached to this rod 21 by set screws 26, there being one cam arm adjacent each valve operating arm 20. The arms 25 extend from the rods at different angles so that only one valve will be opened at a time.

When it is desired to clean the boiler, the usual blow-0E cock is opened. At this time nothing can pass out of the blow-0E opening except through the pipes 12, since the rush of water into the pipes 8 will immediately close the valves 17 therein. The water rushin into the skimmer cups 13 will rotate the spiralsdl l and keep the pipes 12 from being 010 'e it any time the handle 24: may be turned to open the valves 17' in succession, each valve being held open as long as may be desired, after which a slight further rotation of the handle permits the first valve to close and opens the next one. 7

' It is evident that the scum at the top and the sediment at the bottom will be first drawn off, so that my invention permits a rapid and efli'cient cleaning. I have illustrated it applied to a tubular boiler, but it is evident that it is not in any way limited to any'particular type of boiler.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a boiler cleaning device, the combination of a series of inverted cup members adapted to rest on the bottom of the boiler, and having angular flanged openings near their edges, a blow-off pipe, connections be tween the blow-01f pipe and the cup members, a valve associated with each cup member, an operating arm for eachvalve, and a rotatable rod lyingadjaoent said cup members and having cam projections to engage said operating arms and open said valves in sequence.

2. In aboiler cleaning device, the combination of an inverted cup member adapted to rest on the bottom of the boiler, angular flanged openings in its margin, a pipe connected to said cup member, a valve in said nasaesa pipe normally open, but closed by a flow of water through the pipe from the boiler, an operating arm for said valve, and manually operated means for opening said valve through said arm when it is closed.

3. In a boiler cleaning device, the combination of a blow-ofl pipe, a vertical pipe communicating therewith, a skimmer cup carried by the upper end of said pipe, and a spiral member formed of flat material supported within said cup by wings resting upon the edge of the cup, and having a fiat tail within saidpipe, whereby the rotation of the spiral member keeps the pipe clear.

4. In a boiler-cleaning device, the combination of a pipe member, a flaring skimmer cup carried thereby, and a spiral member loosely fitting withinsaid cup and having wings to support it anda flat tail extendin into said-pipe, whereby theinflowing liquid will rotate the spiral and keep the pipe clear.

5. In a boiler cleaning device, the combination of a blOW-Ofi opening, a series of intake members near the bottom of the boiler communicating therewith, a valve for each intake member having an operating arm, and a manually operated rod lying adacent said members and having cams projecting at varying angles therefrom to engage said operating arms at difierent points in the rotation of said rod.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

PERCIVAL' H. KAUFFMAN. 

